newsmakers | 1950s

Categories Class Notes | 1950s, newsmakers | 1950sPosted on

Newsmaker: Arthur Chickering ’50

Arthur Chickering ’50, an educational researcher, received the Teachers College Distinguished Alumni Award on April 8. This honor is presented by Teachers College, Columbia University, to graduates who have distinguished themselves in their fields and whose impact has been felt on a regional, national, or international level. Chickering has worked as an educator and administrator in higher education for over 40 years. He is the author of many publications relating to student affairs and college student development theories. After earning his bachelor’s from Wesleyan, where he majored in modern comparative literature, Chickering earned a master’s from Harvard University, and a PhD from Columbia University.

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John K. Binswanger ’54

On April 20, 2010, John K. Binswanger ’54 was honored at the Fairmount Park Conservancy Centennial Celebration as one of the “most dedicated champions of the park.” Featuring remarks by city Mayor Michael A. Nutter and NBC’s Chris Matthews, the celebration raised significant funds for the conservancy, which is dedicated to improving the environment as well as preserving historic treasures. “Great cities have at their heart great public parks and Philadelphia has a park system like no other,” said Katrina L. Wilhelm, executive director of the conservancy.
On April 20, 2010, John K. Binswanger ’54 was honored at the Fairmount Park Conservancy Centennial Celebration as one of the “most dedicated champions of the park.” Featuring remarks by city Mayor Michael A. Nutter and NBC’s Chris Matthews, the celebration raised significant funds for the conservancy, which is dedicated to improving the environment as well as preserving historic treasures. “Great cities have at their heart great public parks and Philadelphia has a park system like no other,” said Katrina L. Wilhelm, executive director of the conservancy.
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David Nixon ’53

David Nixon ’53, senior partner of the Manchester, N.H., law firm of Nixon, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau, P.A., received the Chief Justice Frank Rowe Kenison Award from the New Hampshire Bar Foundation. Nixon was chosen for his “substantial contributions to the betterment of New Hampshire citizens through the administration of justice, the legal profession, and the advancement of legal thought.” Nixon, an economics major at Wesleyan, earned his law degree with honors from the University of Michigan Law School. Nixon has served as president of the New England and N.H. Bar Associations. He has received the N.H. Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the Distinguished Attorney Award by the N.H. Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence for his service representing abused women and children, and the Public Service Award by the Hillsborough County Law Enforcement Association for his 40 years as chair of its scholarship committee.
David Nixon ’53, senior partner of the Manchester, N.H., law firm of Nixon, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau, P.A., received the Chief Justice Frank Rowe Kenison Award from the New Hampshire Bar Foundation. Nixon was chosen for his “substantial contributions to the betterment of New Hampshire citizens through the administration of justice, the legal profession, and the advancement of legal thought.” Nixon, an economics major at Wesleyan, earned his law degree with honors from the University of Michigan Law School. Nixon has served as president of the New England and N.H. Bar Associations. He has received the N.H. Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the Distinguished Attorney Award by the N.H. Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence for his service representing abused women and children, and the Public Service Award by the Hillsborough County Law Enforcement Association for his 40 years as chair of its scholarship committee.
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Walter J. Pories ’52

Walter J. Pories ’52, MD, professor in the department of surgery at Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, was selected as a 2012–13 recipient of the annual East Carolina University Lifetime Achievement for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Award. He joined ECU in 1977 as chair of the department of surgery at the medical school. While at ECU, he modified a type of weight-loss surgery into the “Greenville Gastric Bypass” and showed conclusively that not only does it result in durable weight loss but it also causes a long-term remission of type-2 diabetes. A biology/chemistry major at Wesleyan with a strong humanities background, he earned his MD at the University of Rochester. Among other honors, Pories is the 2001 recipient of O. Max Gardner Award, the highest honor given by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Pories retired from operating at age 70 but still follows up with former patients and has continued with research related to his Greenville Gastric Bypass and diabetes.
Walter J. Pories ’52, MD, professor in the department of surgery at Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, was selected as a 2012–13 recipient of the annual East Carolina University Lifetime Achievement for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Award. He joined ECU in 1977 as chair of the department of surgery at the medical school. While at ECU, he modified a type of weight-loss surgery into the “Greenville Gastric Bypass” and showed conclusively that not only does it result in durable weight loss but it also causes a long-term remission of type-2 diabetes. A biology/chemistry major at Wesleyan with a strong humanities background, he earned his MD at the University of Rochester. Among other honors, Pories is the 2001 recipient of O. Max Gardner Award, the highest honor given by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Pories retired from operating at age 70 but still follows up with former patients and has continued with research related to his Greenville Gastric Bypass and diabetes.
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Kimon S. Zachos ’52

Kimon S. Zachos '52, a shareholder in the law firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, was honored by the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) with the David C. Knapp Award for Trusteeship. NEBHE President and CEO Michael K. Thomas said, "Kimon Zachos's outstanding record of leadership as a trustee at Southern New Hampshire University was recognized by the Board as being truly exceptional." He added, "Kimon embodies the combination of political, business and civic experience that has made the New England Board of Higher Education such an effective connector over the decades." A government major at Wesleyan, Zachos also holds an LL.B. degree from New York University and an LL.M. degree from Boston University. Additionally he received honorary degrees from Southern New Hampshire University and St. Anselm's College.
Kimon S. Zachos ’52, a shareholder in the law firm of Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, was honored by the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) with the David C. Knapp Award for Trusteeship. NEBHE President and CEO Michael K. Thomas said, “Kimon Zachos’s outstanding record of leadership as a trustee at Southern New Hampshire University was recognized by the Board as being truly exceptional.” He added, “Kimon embodies the combination of political, business and civic experience that has made the New England Board of Higher Education such an effective connector over the decades.” A government major at Wesleyan, Zachos also holds an LL.B. degree from New York University and an LL.M. degree from Boston University. Additionally he received honorary degrees from Southern New Hampshire University and St. Anselm’s College.
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Robert Gardner ’51

Robert Gardner ’51 recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the group’s annual meeting this winter in San Diego. Gardner was recognized for writing more than 130 hands-on science books for children during the past 35 years. Terry Young, chairman of the award selection committee, noted that Gardner’s clear presentation of science at all grade levels, along with his creative writing and use of common household materials, have excited thousands of children to get involved in science and understand the scientific method, all while having fun. The AAAS awards, funded by Subaru, are chosen by a select committee appointed by Science Books and Films, a bimonthly publication of AAAS.
Robert Gardner ’51 recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the group’s annual meeting this winter in San Diego. Gardner was recognized for writing more than 130 hands-on science books for children during the past 35 years. Terry Young, chairman of the award selection committee, noted that Gardner’s clear presentation of science at all grade levels, along with his creative writing and use of common household materials, have excited thousands of children to get involved in science and understand the scientific method, all while having fun. The AAAS awards, funded by Subaru, are chosen by a select committee appointed by Science Books and Films, a bimonthly publication of AAAS.
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Philip Trager ’56

The exhibition, Form and Movement: Photographs by Philip Trager [’56], will appear at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., through January 3, 2010. With a July 11 opening date, the exhibit showcases images from Trager’s 40-year career, including new work exhibited publicly for the first time. Most of the 90 photographs in the exhibition are black and white platinum, gelatin silver, or Iris prints, with the exception of Trager’s recent explorations with bold color. The exhibition includes images of New England, New York cityscapes, the Italian villas of Andrea Palladio, Paris along the Seine, and depictions of modern dance. Form and Movement is presented in cooperation with the Library of Congress, which will house the definitive archive of Trager’s life work. The curators of Form and Movement are Laura Schiavo ’91 and Reed Haslach.
The exhibition, Form and Movement: Photographs by Philip Trager [’56], will appear at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., through January 3, 2010. With a July 11 opening date, the exhibit showcases images from Trager’s 40-year career, including new work exhibited publicly for the first time. Most of the 90 photographs in the exhibition are black and white platinum, gelatin silver, or Iris prints, with the exception of Trager’s recent explorations with bold color. The exhibition includes images of New England, New York cityscapes, the Italian villas of Andrea Palladio, Paris along the Seine, and depictions of modern dance. Form and Movement is presented in cooperation with the Library of Congress, which will house the definitive archive of Trager’s life work. The curators of Form and Movement are Laura Schiavo ’91 and Reed Haslach.
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Edmund Sonnenblick ’54

Edmund Sonnenblick ’54, MD, received the Research Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for his lifetime contributions to cardiovascular science and medicine. A chemistry major, summa cum laude, who earned his medical degree with honors from Harvard University, he is the Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He is the author of nearly 700 papers reporting on his field-related research and has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals. Among his greatest contributions to the field of cardiology was the application of muscle mechanics to evaluation of cardiac performance, now central to clinical practice in measuring cardiac function throughout the world.
Edmund Sonnenblick ’54, MD, received the Research Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for his lifetime contributions to cardiovascular science and medicine. A chemistry major, summa cum laude, who earned his medical degree with honors from Harvard University, he is the Distinguished University Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He is the author of nearly 700 papers reporting on his field-related research and has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals. Among his greatest contributions to the field of cardiology was the application of muscle mechanics to evaluation of cardiac performance, now central to clinical practice in measuring cardiac function throughout the world.
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Dr. William J. Richards ’58

Dr. William J. Richards ’58 recently completed a two-volume work, Early Stages of Atlantic Fishes, a project 15 years in the making. He produced the books for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for which he serves as senior scientist at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami. Early Stages includes detailed descriptions and over 2,500 illustrations of fish in the waters between Hatteras and the equator, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A self-described “farm boy from Pennsylvania,” he said that he had never even seen the ocean before coming to Wesleyan. He became interested in ichthyology, the study of fish, while taking a biology course with an assistant professor named Rudy Haffner. After graduating from Wesleyan with a biology major, he pursued his interest in fish while earning a master's degree in biology from Syracuse University and a doctorate from Cornell.
Dr. William J. Richards ’58 recently completed a two-volume work, Early Stages of Atlantic Fishes, a project 15 years in the making. He produced the books for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for which he serves as senior scientist at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami. Early Stages includes detailed descriptions and over 2,500 illustrations of fish in the waters between Hatteras and the equator, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. A self-described “farm boy from Pennsylvania,” he said that he had never even seen the ocean before coming to Wesleyan. He became interested in ichthyology, the study of fish, while taking a biology course with an assistant professor named Rudy Haffner. After graduating from Wesleyan with a biology major, he pursued his interest in fish while earning a master’s degree in biology from Syracuse University and a doctorate from Cornell.